WEST RUTLAND — Redeveloping the Flory’s Plaza site was recommended as a top priority Wednesday night at the final public work session for the Smart Growth Connection project.

About 17 people attended the work session at the West Rutland Town Hall to discuss potential improvements to the Route 4 corridor between West Rutland and Rutland Town.

Representatives and residents of both towns listened to the presentation along with members of the Rutland Economic Development Corp., the Rutland Regional Planning Commission and the Rutland Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s a long time coming, a lot of work has gone into it and the feedback I’ve gotten from folks … is that it’s all very exciting, and I would share that,” said Tom Donahue, CEO of the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce.

“Part of it is that corridor has been neglected for a long time,” he said. “Now that it has the infrastructure, i.e. water and sewer connecting the two towns, it definitely has that potential for very positive growth.”

Jim Donovan, project manager for Broadreach Planning & Design, said the draft recommendations that have come out of the project were aimed at enhancing the economics, transportation and overall livability of the area.

The recommendations divided the 3.6-mile portion of Route 4 into three study areas — Center Rutland, West Rutland and the Business Route 4 strip. Donovan said while no overall priorities were outlined in the recommendations, priorities were outlined by section.

While speaking of land use recommendations along the Business Route 4 strip, Donovan spoke of the need to create incentives for under-performing properties. He added that properties such as that often discourage businesses from moving in. He said the second priority in that section was the redevelopment of Flory’s Plaza.

Donovan drew a laugh from the crowd when he referred to the property as underdeveloped.

A recommendation that drew mixed reactions was turning the Route 4 entrance intersection in West Rutland into a roundabout.

Transportation engineer and project adviser Chris Gendron said a roundabout would be safer for pedestrian traffic and vehicles.

Gendron said traffic would get through the area faster with a roundabout than with a red light.

“It does slow you down, but everyone is constantly moving,” he said. “You’ll get more traffic through.”

To promote economic development, project adviser Doug Kennedy gave a list of priorities that included relocating and expanding the existing railroad museum. He outlined highlighting the area’s arts community and building upon the rich marble history.

“You may think the word is out,” Kennedy said. “The word is not out.”

After the presentation, those in attendance were able to ask questions and take a closer look at the projects proposed for the area. A final presentation to both town’s select boards is planned for March. A final draft of the plan can be found at www.broadreachpd.com/west-rutland-rutland-town-smart-growth-connections-plan/.

“I applaud Mary Ann Goulette and the West Rutland Select Board for taking the time and the energy to go through a strategic planning process,” said Lyle Jepson, REDC executive director. “Strategies that provide for growth and development, like the one they are going through, clearly pay dividends when it comes to providing what both the community and businesses would like to see.”

Vermont Public Radio reports the new registration system debuted on the secretary of state’s website Monday morning. Secretary of State Jim Condos says the system will improve access to democracy and make elections less susceptible to fraud. He says the state can run an audit of their checklist to see if anyone appears in multiple locations.

Condos says the new system will particularly benefit military personnel stationed overseas, since they can fill out a paper remotely. The new system provides voters with a customized account where they can request absentee ballots, see sample ballots in their precinct, and retrieve information on upcoming elections.

Condos says the system will cost $2.7 million over 10 years. A formal launch event is expected next week.

Rutland County Democrats meet on September 21, 2015 at times and locations listed to elect 2015-17 town officers and delegates to the Rutland County Democratic Committee. All registered voters interested in Democratic Party activities are invited. Questions: Call Mary Mellow 773-4560.

With the weekend nearly upon us, final planning for the annual Pack the Paramount Food Drive is complete — now all that’s needed is for the community to turn out for this important event.

Food drives earlier this year came up short of their goals, and demand remains very high, so this drive is more important than ever. Whether you can donate a small bag of items or an entire truckload, we encourage you to join us at the Paramount Theatre Friday or Saturday to support our greater Rutland community.

This year’s food drive will take place from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and from 6 to 11 a.m. Saturday The public is encouraged to bring nonperishable food items or monetary donations to the Paramount Theatre on Center Street in Rutland. The goal is to fill every seat in the historic theater with a box or bag of food, symbolizing the hundreds of families who need assistance in the Rutland area.

The food will be distributed to folks in need by the Rutland Community Cupboard, BROC and the Salvation Army.

We hope you can join us.

STEVE COSTELLO
Rutland Town

The writer is a Green Mountain Power vice president and co-organizer of Pack the Paramount.